Library Resources
Information about Libraries & the Library Profession
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Library Resources Information Guide
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Information for Everyone
Learn about Librarians & Librarianship
The 21st-Century Librarian
A five-minute video from The New York Times. (Adobe Flash required to see video)
25 Famous Librarians Who Changed History
Ben Franklin, Melvil Dewey, and others.
33 Reasons Why Libraries and Librarians are Still Extremely Important
From DegreeTutor.com.
At Your Library: Expert Staff
Topics include: "How Can Librarians Help Me?" and "Make the Most of Your Librarian." From American Library Association (ALA).
How One Library Pioneer Profoundly Influenced Modern Librarianship
A biography of Melvil Dewey. Provided by Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC).
Librarians in Popular Culture
Article from Wikipedia. (Please read their disclaimers.)
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Librarians
An overview of the general job duties librarians perform. Sections include: Nature of the Work, Training, Other Qualifications and Advancement, Employment, Job Outlook, Projections Data, Earnings, Related Occupations. Provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
You Don't Look Like a Librarian!
Described as "a collection of talks and resources relating to the image and perception of librarians in the Internet age."

See also:


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Learn about Libraries
About Middletown Thrall Library
Learn about the library, its history, administrtion, departments, and services. See also the "About Thrall" section of our Thrall Publications page.
Andrew Carnegie - A Brief Biography
Learn about the philanthropist who helped establish public libraries.
Dewey Decimal Classification System
A simple introduction to the DDC. From Thrall's "Do the Dewey" trivia website. See also these links to learn what subject headings and/or numbers are used to classify and shelve certain topics at Thrall:
How Do I Use the Library?
A general introduction to library services and benefits from American Library Association (ALA).
How to Create a Home Library
From How Stuff Works.
Library FAQ
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about libraries. From ibiblio.org.
A Library Is...
A one-page flyer for young researchers on what a library is and does. (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)
Library Use Value Calculator
"What is your Public Library worth to you?" Use this interactive tool to get some estimates. Provided by New York Library Association (NYLA).
Love Your Library
Includes stories, videos, and quotes from people who love their libraries. There is also an option to share your own story. From the American Library Association's (ALA) iLoveLibraries.org website.
Middletown Thrall Library: Library Help Pages
Answers to common and frequently asked questions (FAQ).
What We Do for You
A list of services and benefits Middletown Thrall Library provides to its community. (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)
Why Libraries Matter
An overview of what public libraries do and contribute to the world. (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)

See also:


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Library Catalogs
Local Library System (RCLS)
Middletown Thrall Library:
Library Catalog
AquaBrowser
Children's Catalog
Government Information in the Catalog
Local History
Young Adult Catalog
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS):
All Member Library Catalogs
Ramapo eFiles: eBooks and eAudiobooks Catalog

Other Library Catalogs
Library of Congress Catalog
OCLC FirstSearch
Available only at Thrall.
Overdrive Download Library Search
Search for eBook-lending libraries by zip code.
Southeastern NY Library Catalogs
"Search for books, magazines and other resources available in the academic, special, public, and school library community in southeastern New York."
WorldCat
Search the collections of libraries around the world. Note: not all libraries are included.

See also:


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Local Libraries
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS)
& SUNY Orange
Libraries in Orange County, New York
Includes: Central Valley, Chester, Cornwall, Florida, Goshen, Greenwood Lake, Highland Falls, Highland Mills, Middletown, Monroe, Montgomery, Newburgh, Pine Bush, Port Jervis, Tuxedo Park, Walden, Warwick, Washingtonville.
Libraries in Rockland County, New York
Includes: Blauvelt, Haverstraw VLG, Haverstraw KDPL, Nanuet, New City, Nyack, Orangeburg, Palisades, Pearl River, Piermont, Sloatsburg, Spring Valley, Stony Point, Suffern, Tappan, Tomkins Cove, Valley Cottage, West Nyack, LARC.
Libraries in Sullivan County, New York
Includes: Callicoon, Eldred, Fallsburg, Grahamsville, Jeffersonville, Liberty, Livingston Manor, Monticello, Narrowsburg, Roscoe, Wurtsboro.
Libraries in Ulster County
Includes: Cragsmoor, Ellenville, Gardiner, Wallkill.
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS): Websites of RCLS Member Libraries
SUNY Orange Library
Orange County Community College (OCCC) Learning Resource Center.


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Local Library Systems
in New York State
Mid-Hudson Library System
Orange-Ulster BOCES School Library System
Public Library Systems in New York State
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS)
See also New York State Library's Public Library Service Area Maps for RCLS.
Reference and Research Library Resources Systems in New York State
School Library Systems in New York State
Southeastern New York Library Resources Council
Westchester Library System


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Libraries in New York State
Find Your Public Library
Directory of libraries provided by the New York State Library.
New York Public Library
New York State Library
See also their Division of Library Development pages.
Public Access Law Libraries in New York State
See listing (under Orange County) for the Supreme Court Law Library in Goshen, New York (mailing address and contact information only).
Public Library Law in New York State
From the New York Library Association (NYLA). Requires Adobe Reader
See also:


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Libraries in the USA
Academic Libraries in the USA
Library of Congress
Public Libraries in the USA
Special and School Libraries
State Library Web Sites
Directory provided by Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction.


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Libraries Worldwide
Libdex - Worldwide Index of Library Catalogues, Libraries & Books
Search or browse
LibWeb
Africa and the Middle East
Asian Libraries
Australian Libraries, New Zealand, the Pacific
Canada (Canadian Libraries)
European Libraries
Scandinavia (Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden), Great Britain and Ireland (England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Western Europe (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican City), Germany and Central Europe (Austria, The Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Switzerland), Southeast Europe and the Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, The Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia), Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland), Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine)
Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South American Libraries


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Library Humor & Fun
Library Humour
An archived website from International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
Library Jokes for Kids
From Multnomah County Library.
Library Science Jeopardy
How many questions can you get right?
Unshelved
A daily web comic/cartoon about libraries.


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Local Library News & Events
Middletown Thrall Library: News & Events
Also see our quarterly library newsletter and RE:fresh Reference Department newsletter
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) Libraries
Find your library's website and see their "News," "Programs," or "Events" section.

Residents in or beyond New York State, see also these sections to find your local library's new page:


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Presidential Libraries (U.S. Presidents)
Archives.gov: Presidential Libraries
Sections include: Learn about and Visit Presidential Libraries, Research Presidential Documents, Explore Public and Education Programs, news, and more.
C-SPAN: Presidential Libraries - History Uncovered
"This continually growing web site houses hundreds of newly discovered films, audio, and video recordings and serves as the companion piece to C-SPAN's television and radio series."
Libraries Established in Honor of U.S. Presidents:
Select a library from the list below:
John Quincy Adams National Historic Park & Library
George H. W. Bush Presidential Library
George W. Bush Presidential Library
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
William J. Clinton Presidential Library
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library
Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library


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Readers' Advisory
Developmental Materials
Overbooked: Readers Advisory Current Awareness Tools and Resources
The Reader's Advisor Online Blog
Described as "the blog for readers' advisors and bibliophiles who work with readers."
Readers' Advisor News
"An e-newsletter published quarterly by Libraries Unlimited."
Genrefluent
"The World of Genre Fiction from the author of Genreflecting."
Novelist
Middletown Thrall Library cardholders and staff members have access to Novelist. In addition to being a readers' advisory tool, Novelist provides material to help professionals develop their RA skills. Training modules, articles, newsletters, descriptions of genres and appeal factors, and ideas for book displays can all be found in Novelist.
Reader's Advisor Online
Book reviews in a blog format. Said to be based on Libraries Unlimited's Genreflecting series of reader's advisory guides. See also their Reader's Advisor newsletter.

See also:


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Reading Suggestions
for Readers
Booklovers Web Guide
Book lists (by theme), reviews, discussions, news, and more for readers. Also check out our Booklovers Blog for monthly title selections. (PDF format (view with Adobe Reader)
FictionFinder (beta website)
"FictionFinder is a project of OCLC Research that provides access to 2.8 million works of fiction found in the OCLC WorldCat database. With FictionFinder, you can search for books, eBooks, and audiobooks by titles, authors, ISBNs, and other information such as literary awards and book summaries. You can also browse the FictionFinder database by genre, fictional character, imaginary place or setting, and subject." Provided by Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC).
Literature Explorer
Browse literary classics and authors. Directory by Thrall.
Personal Reading Plan
A free service provided by Middletown Thrall Library. Tell us what or who you like to read, and we'll offer some suggestions!
Thrall Publications for Readers
Includes: Beyond the Bestsellers, Booklovers (Services for You at the Library), Celebrity Favorites, Finding Self-Help Books, Future Title Watch.
Random Reads
Get random reading suggestions, including titles, authors, and topics in the library catalog. A free service provided by Thrall.
RAVES! A Readers Advisory Service by Middletown Thrall Library
Discover or search for interesting books and authors or submit your own suggestions through this free service.


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Research
Ask a Librarian
You can come to Thrall's Reference Department, call our librarians (845-341-5461) when the library is open, or, at any time, ask us a question over the Internet. Our librarians are eager to help you!
Biographies
Need to look up a famous or historical person? Try these Internet resources and databases.
Doing Research, Writing Research Papers
Topics include: General Research Considerations & Evaluating Information, Citations and Style Guides, Online Research - Internet/Web/Electronic (General Online Research Considerations, Current Events Sources, Research Databases on the Web, Virtual Reference Library Websites - Finding & Evaluating).
Databases & Encyclopedias
Full text article databases and encyclopedias available at the library. Many resources here can also be accessed at home by members of Thrall.
Issues & Viewpoints - Pros & Cons, Debates
You can use these sites in our Ready Reference Center to explore various ideologies and ideological positions on a wide variety of topics and controversies.
Reference Services & Online Research
Helpful publications from Middletown Thrall Library's Reference Department. Documents are in PDF format: view them with Adobe Reader.
Reference Service News
News and announcements regarding research services from Middletown Thrall Library's Reference Department.
Virtual Reference Library
Access entire reference works over the Internet - either at the library or at home (Thrall members only). Subject areas include: Arts, Biography, Environment, History, Medicine, Multicultural Studies, Nation and World, Religion, Science, Social Science.
Web Guides
Browse or search Middletown Thrall Library's many information guides to find websites online or books, videos, or other items in the library catalog.


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Library Trivia & History
Boston Public Library: First Facts
Fun facts including the "first library to allow its citizens to borrow books and materials."
FunTrivia.com: Libraries
Quizzes and trivia about libraries.
The Mysterious Fate of the Great Library of Alexandria
The author of this article states, "A much more detailed and heavily footnoted paper about the libraries of Alexandria, their foundation and their fate is available here."
History Magazine: The History of the Library
Libraries throughout history, from the Great Library of Alexandria up to Andrew Carnegie's effort to help create public libraries in the United States.
Librarians in the Movies: An Annotated Filmography
From the David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University.
The Library Company of Philadelphia
"The Library Company is America's first successful lending library and oldest cultural institution. It was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin as a subscription library supported by its shareholders, as it is to this day." Includes images, history, and downloadable documents.
The Library History Buff
"This site is divided into three broad categories. The 'Library History' category includes Web pages with information about library history. The 'Librariana' category includes Web pages with information about the collecting of library memorabilia and artifacts. The 'Postal Librariana' category includes Web pages with information about the collecting of postal artifacts related to libraries." A blog is also available.
Library of Congress: Fascinating Facts
See also their History page.
New York Public Library
Sections include: Origins, Building the Library, Creating the Neighborhood Libraries.
Middletown Thrall Library: 1901 - 1996: A Historical Study of a Small City Public Library
See also Thrall's "About" page
Quotations about Libraries and Librarians
From International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
World's Largest Libraries
List from Libraryspot.com.


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Virtual, Electronic, & Digital Libraries
D-Lib Magazine
"D-Lib Magazine is a solely electronic publication with a primary focus on digital library research and development, including but not limited to new technologies, applications, and contextual social and economic issues."
DigitalPreservation.gov: The U.S. National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP)
News, video presentations, publications, and more.
Google Books
Use the Advanced Search to locate full books. Note: Some book records only contain chapter outlines or limited previews.
Hathi Trust Digital Library
"HathiTrust was conceived as a collaboration of the thirteen universities of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation and the University of California system to establish a repository for these universities to archive and share their digitized collections."
New York Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVEL)
NYS residents can read about and access databases made available through NOVEL. Thrall members can access all NOVEL databases and more at this link
New York State Library: Digital Collections
Choose from: Education Laws and Policy Documents, New York State Government Documents, New York State Library Scanned Publications Collection (browse this area by topic), United States Government Documents. Most documents are in PDF format (view with Adobe Reader).
Project Gutenberg
An online archive of downloadable e-texts (electronic/digitized texts). Includes classics, historical works, biographies/memoirs, letters, essays, novels, poetry, and much more.
Virtual Reference Library
Members of Thrall can enjoy access to a number of excellent reference works Thrall has acquired for online use.
World Digital Library
"The World Digital Library (WDL) makes available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world."

See also:


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Information for
Library Personnel, Professionals,
& Information Specialists
Advocacy - Marketing Library Services
Promoting Open Access to Information & Intellectual Freedom
At Your Library
"@ Your Library" is a website from the American Library Association (ALA) which explores the many kinds of useful, educational, and positive services libraries provide.
Add It Up: Libraries Make the Difference in Youth Development and Education
"Research and statistics to help advocates make the case for libraries at every stage of youth development and education."
Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit
Sections include: Introduction, Talking Points, Making the Case, Outreach, Talking to the Media, Working with Govt. Officials and Legislators, Staging a Rally, Library Checklist, Contacts, Resources. From the American Library Association (ALA).
American Library Association (ALA): Issues & Advocacy
Topics include: Access (Access to Information, Equity of Access), Advocacy & Legislation (Advocacy Institute, Advocacy University, Federal Legislation, Know Your Stimulus, Legislative Action Center, Library Ecosystem, Public Awareness, State & Local Efforts, Tools for Advocacy), Copyright (Anti-piracy Legislation, General Copyright, Google Book Settlement, Intellectual Property, International Copyright Activities), Diversity (Cultural Programming to Promote Diversity, Outreach to Underserved Populations, Reports, Diversity Research & Statistics, Workforce Development), Intellectual Freedom (Censorship & First Amendment Issues, Filtering, Privacy & Confidentiality, International Issues), Activities (International Assistance, Global Issues, Resources & Professional Opportunities), Library Funding Updates (Federal Library Funding, Public Library Funding, School Library Funding), Literacy & Reading Promotion (Adult Literacy, English for Non-native Speakers), Professional Ethics. See also the ALA's Office for Library Advocacy (OLA) pages.
American Library Association (ALA): Network Neutrality
Sections include: What is Net Neutrality?, Why is Net Neutrality an issue?, Why does Net Neutrality matter to libraries?, The issue of Regulation vs. Competition, Conclusion, Where can I found out more?
Banned Books Week
"Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment." Includes news and information on censorship attempts, Frequently Challenged Books, and other related topics. American Library Association (ALA).
The Campaign for America's Libraries: @ Your Library
Includes information on Library Card Sign-up Month, National Library Week, and related promotional materials. From the American Library Association (ALA).
Censorship: News and Advice
"Censorship news and advice for librarians and educators from School Library Journal."
Freedom to Read Statement
A joint statement by the American Library Association and Association of American Publishers. See also the ALA's Fredom to Read Foundation.
How Libraries Stack Up
An illustrated overview of how libraries help communities. From OCLC. (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)
Intellectual Freedom in Libraries
News and articles from Library Journal.
Library Advocacy Day (June 29, 2010)
"For one year only, Library Advocacy Day will replace National Library Legislative Day (NLLD). On June 29, 2010, library advocates from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. will meet at Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds. The event, which will begin at 11 a.m., will feature guest speakers, photo ops, and a chance to cheer on libraries! After the rally, participants will meet with their elected officials and their staffs." From the American Library Association (ALA).
Library Bill of Rights
"The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services." From the American Library Association (ALA).
Library Use Value Calculator
"What is your Public Library worth to you?" Patrons can use this interactive tool to calculate some rough estimates. Provided by New York Library Association (NYLA).
I Love Libraries: News, Issues, Legislation, Careers & Advocacy for America's Libraries
Described as "the American Library Association's (ALA's) website for the public, designed to keep America informed about what's happening in today's libraries, which are found in public, school, academic, corporate and institutional settings."
LibraryCareers.org: Make a Living Making a Difference (Careers in Librarianship)
"LibraryCareers.org is a service of the American Library Association designed to promote interest, awareness, and information about careers in libraries. Its purpose is to serve as a starting point to anyone who may be considering working in a library."
Marketing Your Library - Resources for Marketing Libraries
A list of web resources and recommended books from LibrarySupportStaff.com.
New York State Library: Advocacy Resources & Legislation for Libraries in New York State
Advocacy tools, NYLA Lobby Day, contacting elected officials, and more.
ProtectNYLibraries.org
Advocacy information and materials concerning libraries and the New York State Budget. From the New York Library Association (NYLA).
Privacy Revolution
"The website will serve as a hub to provide information and tools to help people think critically and make personal choices about their information privacy, while also allowing them to join a community, share their story, and add their voices to those of others who are passionate about privacy issues." From the American Library Association (ALA).
Thrall Publications - Promoting Library Awareness & Appreciation
  • A Library Is... - A one-page flyer for young researchers on what a library is and does.
  • What We Do for You - A list of services and benefits Middletown Thrall Library provides to its community.
  • Why Libraries Matter - An overview of what public libraries do and contribute to the world.
(PDF format - view with Adobe Reader).

See also:


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Associations & Organizations
American Indian Library Association (AILA)
"AILA was founded in 1979 in conjunction with the White House Pre-Conference on Indian Library and Information Services on or near Reservations. An affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), the American Indian Library Association is a membership action group that addresses the library-related needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives."
The American Association of Law Libraries (AALLNET)
"The American Association of Law Libraries was founded in 1906 to promote and enhance the value of law libraries to the legal and public communities, to foster the profession of law librarianship, and to provide leadership in the field of legal information."
American Library Association (ALA)
"The stated mission is, 'To provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.'" Divisions (associations) include:
The American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T)
"Since 1937, ASIS&T has been the society for information professionals leading the search for new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information."
American Theological Library Association (ATLA)
"Established in 1946, the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) is a professional association of more than 1,000 individual, institutional, and affiliate members providing programs, products, and services in support of theological and religious studies libraries and librarians. ATLA's ecumenical membership represents many religious traditions and denominations."
Art Libraries Society of North America
"The Art Libraries Society of North America was founded in 1972 at the initiative of Judith Hoffberg by a group of art librarians attending the American Library Association annual conference in Chicago. This group realized that to fulfill the need among art librarians for better communication and cooperation, and to provide a forum for ideas, projects, and programs, an entirely new and separate organization was required."
Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
"ARL is a nonprofit organization of research libraries at comprehensive, research-extensive institutions in the US and Canada that share similar research missions, aspirations, and achievements."
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
"The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas."
International Association of School Librarianship (IASL)
"The mission of the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) is to provide an international forum for those people interested in promoting effective school library media programs as viable instruments in the educational process. IASL also provides guidance and advice for the development of school library programs and the school library profession. IASL works in cooperation with other professional associations and agencies."
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
"IFLA is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession."
Medical Library Association (MLA)
"The Medical Library Association (MLA) is a nonprofit, educational organization with more than 4,000 health sciences information professional members and partners worldwide. MLA provides lifelong educational opportunities, supports a knowledgebase of health information research, and works with a global network of partners to promote the importance of quality information for improved health to the health care community and the public."
Music Library Association (MLA)
"The Music Library Association provides a professional forum for librarians, archivists, and others who support and preserve the world's musical heritage."
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
"The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper." Includes information for archivists and general information on archives and archiving information.
New York Library Association (NYLA)
"The New York Library Association (NYLA) was founded in 1890 to lead in the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning, quality of life, and equal opportunity for all New Yorkers."

Organizational sections include:
Society of American Archivists (SAA)
"Founded in 1936, the Society of American Archivists is North America's oldest and largest national archival professional association. SAA's mission is to serve the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual and institutional members and to provide leadership to ensure the identification, preservation, and use of records of historical value."
Special Libraries Association (SLA)
"The Special Libraries Association (SLA) was founded in 1909 in the state of New York and is now the international association representing the interests of thousands of information professionals in over eighty countries worldwide."
SUNY Librarians' Association (SUNYLA)
"The SUNY Librarians' Association promotes the professional development and collaboration of library personnel across SUNY in order to advance library service(s) to our campuses and the people of New York State."
Wikipedia: List of Library Associations Worldwide
Includes organizations for libraries in Europe and elsewhere. Browse by country/region. Please read Wikipedia's disclaimers.


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Blogs, Lists, Discussions
Blogs
ALA TechSource Blog
From the American Library Association.
ALA Weblog Service
The American Library Association's blog. See also ALA's American Libraries (AL) list of recommended blogs.
At Your Library
From American Library Association (ALA).
Book List Blogs
Blogs include:
Audiobooker
"Mary Burkey, a teacher, librarian, and audiobook addict, writes about listening, learning, and the joy of headsets."
Book Group Buzz
"Book group tips, reading lists, and lively talk of literary news from the experts at Booklist Online."
Bookends
"Middle-school librarians Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan prove that two heads are better than one when it comes to discussing YA and children's books."
Likely Stories
"Keir Graff and editors from Booklist's adult and youth departments write candidly about books, book reviewing, and the publishing industry."
Points of Reference
"Mary Ellen Quinn and a team of front-line experts write about reference sources and trends in reference publishing and services."
Catalogablog
"Library cataloging, classification, metadata, subject access and related topics."
Cataloging Futures
"The focus of this blog is the future of cataloging and metadata in libraries."
Designing Better Libraries
"Designing Better Libraries is a blog about design thinking and how it applies to library settings. The goal of this blog is to provide information, news and ideas that librarians can use to design a great library user experience for their communities."
The Dewey Blog
"Everything you always wanted to know about the Dewey Decimal Classification system but were afraid to ask."
The Early Word: The Publisher Librarian Connection
"News for Collection Development and Readers Advisory Librarians."
Free Range Librarian
"K. G. Schneider's blog on librarianship, writing, and everything else."
Law Librarian Blog
LibDex: Library Web Logs
Blogs from various libraries and librarians from around the world.
Library Journal Blogs
A variety of blogs hosted at LJ including: Annoyed Librarian, Blatant Berry Blog, Bubble Room, Digital Libraries, E-Views, Francine Fialkoff Blog, Games, Gamers, & Gaming, In the Bookroom, LJ Insider, Music for the Masses, StudentAffairs.
Library Juice: On the Intersection of Libraries, Politics, and Culture
Library of Congress Blog
Library Stuff
"The library weblog dedicated to resources for keeping current and professional development."
Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) Blog
From the American Library Association (ALA).
Phil Bradley's Weblog
"Where librarians and the internet meet: internet searching, Web 2.0 resources, search engines and their development."
Planet Cataloging
"Planet Cataloging is an automatically-generated aggregation of blogs related to cataloging and metadata."
Public Library Association (PLA) Blog
Taxonomy Watch
"A weblog about taxonomies and their application in organizing digital content. Also includes related topics such as controlled vocabulary, thesauri, topic maps, ontologies and semantic technologies."
Thrall Blogs
Blogs include: Beyond the Box Office, Booklovers, Consumers, Environment, Government Information, Health & Wellness, Library Announcements, Library Programs, Reference Service News, Science & Technology, Youth Services & Children's Programs.
Weblogs on Library and Information Science
Listings from Google Directory.


Lists (e-mail/mailing lists/listservs) & Online Discussions
American Library Association (ALA) Mailing Lists
Here you can browse (by category) ALA's lists, subscribe/unsubscribe (where the option to do so is available), and view past messages in each list's archive.
DIGLIB
"The DIGLIB mailing list is for librarians, information scientists, and other information professionals to share information about the many issues and technologies pertaining to the creation of "digital libraries."
Fiction-L
"Fiction_L is an electronic mailing list devoted to reader's advisory topics such as book discussions, booktalks, collection development issues, booklists and bibliographies, and a wide variety of other topics of interest to librarians, book discussion leaders, and others with an interest in reader's advisory. Fiction_L was developed for and by librarians dealing with fiction collections and requests; however fiction lovers worldwide are welcome to join the discussion. Among the topics discussed have been: genre study, bibliographies, workshops, audiobooks, reading clubs, and print and electronic resources The discussion is not limited to fiction, but rather covers all aspects of reader's advisory for children, young adults and adults, including non-fiction materials."
GOVDOC-L
"GOVDOC-L is a LISTSERV(c)-based discussion forum about government information and the Federal Depository Library program. Many subscribers are librarians in and out of government, although private and public information producers are represented as well."
NYLINE: New York's Libraries Information Network
"Subscribe to the NYLINE list for up-to-the-minute information about: library developments in New York State; news from the New York Library Association, news from the New York State Library library-related job openings in and around New York State, and networking with your colleagues."
PUBLIB
"PUBLIB has been around since 1992 as a place for ideas, help, and discussion for public librarians and those interested in public libraries."
Web4Lib: Web Systems in Libraries Mailing List
"The Web4Lib electronic discussion is for the discussion of issues relating to the creation, management, and support of library-based World-Wide Web servers, services, and applications."
YALSA (The Young Adult Library Services Association List)
"For people currently teaching children's and young adult literature; a space for library school students, teachers, librarians, and others to discuss theory and practice and exchange ideas, syllabi, and information."
XML4Lib
"The XML4Lib electronic discussion is for the discussion of the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and its use in, by, and for libraries and library users."


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Calendars - Workshops & Events
Mid Hudson Library System: Schedule of Events
Middletown Thrall Library: News and Programs
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) Calendar
Southeastern New York Library Resources Council


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Cataloging & Classification Systems
Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2)
"The Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR) are designed for use in the construction of catalogues and other lists in general libraries of all sizes. The rules cover the description of, and the provision of access points for, all library materials commonly collected at the present time."
The ANSCR Classification System for Sound Recordings
"The Alpha-Numeric System for Classification of Recordings (ANSCR) is composed of 46 major categories into which all sound recordings are organized." Click here to see how ANSCR is used at Thrall to classify classical, jazz, and music wellness CDs.
BISAC Subject Headings
"The BISAC [Book Industry Standards and Communications] Subject Headings List is a standard used by many companies throughout the supply chain to categorize books based on topical content." Scroll down page for links to lists. From Book Industry Study Group (BISG). (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)
Cataloging and Classification: Professional Tips
From the ALA (American Library Association) Professional Tips Wiki.
A Concise Guide to Book Industry Product Identifiers
"A Concise Guide to Book Industry Product Identifiers defines and attempts to standardize the nomenclature surrounding product identification. Included are definitions for ISBN-10, ISBN-13, EAN/UCC-13, Bookland EAN, GTIN-14, Item-specific UPC-12 and Price-point UPC-12." Provided by the ISBN-13 Task Force of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG). (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)
Dewey Decimal Classification (DCC)
Online Computer Library Center (OCLC).
The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
Described as "an open organization engaged in the development of interoperable online metadata standards that support a broad range of purposes and business models."
Folksonomies
Article from D-Lib Magazine on what a folksonomy is as well as what tags are and how they work to describe information.
Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) What is FRBR?: A Conceptual Model for the Bibliographic Universe (2004)
An introductory document from the Library of Congress. (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader).
How to Acquire Cataloging Tools
An ALA (American Library Association) Fact Sheet.
An Introduction to Metadata
Provided by University of Queensland Library.
Library of Congress Classification
See also their Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS) for mostly premium services include: Cataloger's Desktop, Classification Web (Library of Congress Classification and Subject Headings (LCSH) online), Classification Schedules and Manuals, Cataloging Manuals, Training Tools, News, and more.
MARC Records
MARC stands for "MAchine-Readable Cataloging." "The MARC formats are standards for the representation and communication of bibliographic and related information in machine-readable form." From the Library of Congress.
Sears List of Subject Headings
From H. W. Wilson Company.
SuDoc: An Explanation of the Superintendent of Documents Classification System
From the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.
Universal Decimal Classification (UDC)
"The Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) is the world's foremost multilingual classification scheme for all fields of knowledge, a sophisticated indexing and retrieval tool."

See also:


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Collection Development
Bestseller Lists
From Middletown Thrall Library's Booklovers web guide.
Book Reviews
From Middletown Thrall Library's Booklovers web guide.
Collection Development Calendar
"The year in collection development from Library Journal, with roundups of books plus audiobooks, videos, and websites added bimonthly."
Collection Development Policies on the Web
Public Libraries, Community College Libraries, College Libraries, University Libraries, Academic Libraries: Special Collections, National and State Government Libraries, School Libraries).
Diversity in Collection Development
"An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights" from the American Library Association (ALA).
GPO Access: Collection Development
Concerning government documents and the Federal Despository Library Program. Sections include: Core Collections, Collection Development Tools, Online Migration, Policies, Procedures.
School Library Collection Development
From SLdirectory.com (Resources for School Librarians).
Shelf Awareness: Drop-in Titles Database
Search or browse current/archived listings. Features "drop-in" / "crash" / "add-in" titles - i.e. "sudden new books or titles with major last-minute changes."
Trends in Books
Provided by Publisher's Weekly.


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Education & Training
ALA Scholarship Program
Communication Skills for Library Staff: Emphasizing the Multicultural Experience
Training materials provided by Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS). (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader)
Continuing Education Opportunities
From Southeastern New York Library Resources Council (SENYLRC).
Directory of ALA-Accredited Master's Programs In Library and Information Studies
Education for Librarianship
Provided by the American Library Association (ALA).
New York Library Association (NYLA): Awards & Scholarships
Ohio Library Council: Orientation for New Employees
"Public library training for new employees. An introduction to basic library organization, mission, and services. If this is your first day, week, or month at the library, what will you need to know?"
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS): ANSER Manual
and related library support materials.
WebJunction
"Our vision is to be the place where the worldwide library profession gathers to build the knowledge, skills and support we need to power vibrant, relevant libraries."

See also:


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Jobs & Careers in Libraries
Employment
Employment Resources by Specialty Area, Salaries, Labor Relations Resources, Foreign Credentials Evaluation Assistance. Provided by the American Library Association (ALA).
JobLIST: Library Jobs, Librarian & IT Job Listings
Provided by the American Library Association (ALA) and College & Research Libraries News (C&RL).
Labor Trends & Statistics for Library Workers
Provided by the American Library Association (ALA).
LibGig: Library Jobs, Careers, Placement, Recruiting
Librarian: Career Information
Job description, employment facts, and more. Provided by About.com.
Library of Congress: Job Opportunities
LibraryCareers.org: Make a Living Making a Difference (Careers in Librarianship)
"LibraryCareers.org is a service of the American Library Association designed to promote interest, awareness, and information about careers in libraries. Its purpose is to serve as a starting point to anyone who may be considering working in a library."
LIScareer.com
"LIScareer offers career development resources for new librarians and information professionals, MLS students and those considering a library-related career. The site features practical articles contributed by information professionals, along with links to online and print resources."
LISjobs.com
"Since 1996, LISjobs.com has provided career information for librarians and information professionals."
List of Support Staff Positions in Libraries
This list "is intended to give you an idea about types of jobs you can have as support staff within libraries." Provided by the American Library Association (ALA).
Medical Library Association (MLA): Career Development
Sections include: Career Exploration ("Find Out What It Takes to Become a Medical Librarian!"), Career Video ("Join the Health Care Team-Become a Medical Librarian"), Career Resources for Medical Librarians, Online Career Fair for Career Presentations, Mentoring Resources, Pearls of Wisdom for New MLA Members.
New York State Library: LibraryCareersNY.org
Job listings and employment opportunities in NYS. See also NYSL's New York State Public Librarian Certification page.
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Librarians
An overview of the general job duties librarians perform. Sections include: Nature of the Work, Training, Other Qualifications and Advancement, Employment, Job Outlook, Projections Data, Earnings, Related Occupations. Provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS): Library Jobs
Employment opportunities within RCLS member libraries.
Special Libraries Association (SLA): Career Center
Search for jobs and employment opportunities in the library field.


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News from the Library World
American Library Association (ALA): Conferences and Events
American Library Association (ALA): Libraries in the News
College & Research Libraries (C&RL) News
Google News: librarians, library, libraries, information science
Current headlines indexed.
Library Journal: News, Reviews, and Views
Library of Congress: News
LISNews Librarian And Information Science News
Middletown Thrall Library: News & Events
See also our blogs for more news about programs, databases, electronic and print resources, new books/authors, government information, and much more.
National Archives News
Provided by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
New York State Library: News
The New York Times: Libraries and Librarians
Scroll down their page (past the Archive section) for current stories and headlines.
Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS): Press Room
See also the Weekly Memos page.
Shelf Awareness: Book Trade News & Events
Information about upcoming trade shows of interest to librarians. Includes links to BookExpo America, bookseller associations, and more.
Southeastern New York Library Resources Council (SENYLRC): News


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Preserving & Conserving Information,
Caring for Books & other Materials
Archives.gov: Conservation
Topics include: Deacidification, Drying Methods, Film Recovery, Fire Recovery, Flood Damage, Library Materials, Magnetic Media, Mass De-acidification, Mold Prevention, Objects Recovery. From the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Books and videos on book conservation and restoration in the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS)
Caring for Your Treasures
Sections include: "How to Protect Your Books," "Documents and Works of Art on Paper Documents & Works of Art on Paper," "Photographs," and more. Also available is an "Disaster Recovery and Response: Emergency! If You're First..." guide and search engine for finding conservators. From The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).
Digital Preservation Management
A self-directed tutorial concerning digitization/scanning of books, documents, manuscripts, and other items. Provided by Cornell University Library. See also their Digital Imaging Tutorial.
DigitalPreservation.gov: Digital Preservation Program
"The mission of the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program is to develop a national strategy to collect, preserve and make available significant digital content, especially information that is created in digital form only, for current and future generations." Includes information on "Sustainability of Digital Formats." From the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress: Preservation
The second half of this website offers information on caring for, preserving, and salvaging items (if they become aged or damaged). Sections include: Caring for Your Collections, Care, Handling and Storage of Books, Emergency Preparedness (what to do in the event of fire, floods, storms, earthquakes, and other emergencies), Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Preservation and Collection Maintenance
Topics and publications include: "Care of Family Papers and the Home Library," "A Pigment Particle & Fiber Atlas for Paper Conservators," "Air Drying of Wet Books," "Full Book Repair," From Cornell University Library.
Preserving Antique Books
From Antiques Roadshow / PBS.
Preserving My Heritage
"This site is aimed at helping you care for and preserve your treasures, heirlooms, and works of art, and will be useful for training museum volunteers in basic care of collections." Includes information on preserving paper documents and newspaper clippings, books, photographic materials, sound recordings (cassettes, CDs, etc.), and videotapes. From the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI).
Restoring Damaged Photographs
Tips from Genealogy.com.
The Wayback Machine
Locate websites that no longer exist, or request that your own website be archived. Provided by Archive.org.


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Professional Literature
Databases
dLIST: Digital Library of Information Science and Technology
"Established in 2002, DLIST, Digital Library of Information Science and Technology is a cross-institutional, subject-based, open access digital archive for the Information Sciences, including Archives and Records Management, Library and Information Science, Information Systems, Museum Informatics, and other critical information infrastructures. The dLIST vision is to serve as a dynamic archive in the Information Sciences, broadly understood, and positively impact and shape scholarly communication in our closely related fields."
E-LIS: E-Prints in Library and Information Science
"E-LIS was formed in 2003 for the deposit of documents in the Library and Information Science (LIS) domain. It is the first international e-server in this subject area and resulted from the RCLIS (Research in Computing, Library and Information Science) project and the DoIS (Documents in Information Science), promoted by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and hosted by AEPIC team on machines of the Italian Consorzio Interuniversitario Lombardo per Elaborazione Automatica (CILEA). E-LIS relies on the voluntary work of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and is non-commercial. There is neither funding nor interest in profiting from the initiative."
Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA)
EBSCO describes this database as "a free resource to anyone interested in libraries and information management. This world-class bibliographic database covers librarianship, classification, information management, and more and indexes nearly 600 periodicals plus books, research reports, and proceedings. With coverage dating back to the mid-1960s, it is the oldest continuously produced database covering the field of information science."

Journals & Periodicals
American Libraries Online
"The Magazine of the American Library Association."
Cataloging & Classification Quarterly
Abstracts and table of contents available.
Cites and Insights
Described as "a Web-based journal of libraries, policy, technology, and media."
Computers in Libraries
Described as "a monthly magazine that provides complete coverage of the news and issues in the rapidly evolving field of library information technology."
Electronic British Library Journal (eBLJ)
"The eBLJ is the journal of scholarly research into the contents and history of the British Library and its collections. It is the successor to the British Library Journal, which appeared in twenty-five volumes between 1975 and 1999." Articles are in PDF format (view with Adobe Reader).
Electronic Journals in Librarianship and Information Science
Directory of e-journals in the field created and maintained by librarians at Aberystwyth University in Wales.
Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL)
Described as "a refereed journal published quarterly by the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association."
Journal of Information Science
Browse table of contents and abstracts from current and past issues. Full text requires subscription.
Law Library Journal
From the The American Association of Law Libraries (AALLNET).
Library Journal
News, reviews, articles, and more.
Library Philosophy & Practice
Library Student Journal
"Library Student Journal was founded in 2006 by Masters students in the Department of Library and Information Studies at the University at Buffalo. Its authors, readers, and editorial board members include future Library and Information Science (LIS) practitioners around the world."
LIBRES
"LIBRES is an international refereed electronic journal devoted to new research in Library and Information Science." Articles are in PDF format: view them with Adobe Reader.
School Library Journal
News, reviews, articles, and more.

See also:


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Reference Services
Patron Interviews & Information Transactions
Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers
From the American Library Association (ALA).
Reference Competencies
From the Arrowhead Library System in Minnesota.
Nebraska STAR Reference Manual
From the Nebraska Library Commission. Topics include: The Ethics of Reference, The Reference Interview, Tools/Tips, Guidance with People, Where to Find the Answers.
The Reference Interview: Theories and Practice
Article from Library Philosophy & Practice journal.
Reference & User Services Association (RUSA)
"RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need." From American Library Association (ALA).


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Resource Awareness & Discovery
Infomine: What's New
Intute: New Resources
LISnews
The Online Books Page
A regularly updated list of newly available digitized texts (eBooks/eTexts).
Research Buzz
Resource Shelf
Search Engine Land: News
Search Engine News
Yahoo!: What's New


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Terminology
General Library Terms & Related Concepts
Critical Thinking Skills
Computer Terminology
Glossary of Library Terms
From Cornell Univesity Library.
Library Lingo
"Ever feel that the library staff are speaking a different language? We are! Here are the meanings of some common terms used at the library." Provided by New York Public Library.
Library Terms Translated
A glossary of simplified library terms. Provided by Albany University Libraries.
Reference Services
Learn about databases, search engines, web guides, and more.


Specialized & Technical Terminology
ALA and LIS Acronyms
"This alphabetical listing of library acronyms includes: ALA unit, division, roundtable and committee acronyms, ALA unit publications known by acronyms, Acronyms for other library and related organizations, Abbreviations commonly used in library literature." From American Library Association (ALA).
Information Science Glossary
Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science
Technical Services Department Glossary
Technical processing terms. Provided by New York University Libraries.

See also:


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Web Resources & Directories
for Further Exploration
Information and Library Science
A directory of web resources provided by Albany University Libraries.
American Library Association (ALA): Links to Library Web Resources
ipl2: Librarianship Resources
A directory of websites by topic.
Library and Information Science Resources
An extensive directory provided by Rutgers University. Sections include: Reference Sources (Electronic Reference Sources, Bibliographies, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Annual Reviews/Yearbooks, Handbooks and Manuals, Directories, Information Technology, Electronic Publishing, Online Searching, Information Studies), Journal Articles and Journal Lists, and more.
Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki
"This wiki was created to be a one-stop shop for great ideas and information for all types of librarians."
LLRX.com
"Legal and technology articles and resources for librarians, lawyers and law firms."
LibrarySpot.com
Directory of library websites. Includes listings for: Academic Libraries, Film Libraries, Government Libraries, K-12 Libraries, Law Libraries, Medical Libraries, National Libraries.
Open Directory Project: Library Resources
The Researching Librarian
"Web resources helpful for librarians doing research." Sections include: databases, funding, journals, statistics, tools, awareness, proceedings.


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